The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-12-22
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, d. C., Dec. 16, 1887.
With characteristic fairness Speaker
Carlisle called Mr.. Mills to the chair
this week, and descending to the floor,
requested the House to choose theCom-
mittee on Elections. This unusual
action was taken on account of the
contest of Thobe against Carlisle. upon
which this committee is to pass, and
the Speaker declined to have any voice
in selection of the tribunal which will
try the issue, so that, no matter what
tho result, he cannot be charged with
manipulating the Committee in his
personal and political interests. Some
of the Republican extremists favor
sending Congressional Committee to
Kentucky to have an investigation
chiefly for the purpose of msking po-
litlcal capital. But this can hardly be
done, as the evidence in the contest is
virtually closed and the case will
probably be conducted with the regu
lar formality of judicial proceedings
at the bar OF -th6 House,
AS but two of the House Commit
tees have been appointed, that body
has not begun its regular work, but in
the,meantime, the members are map
ping out much legislation, good deal
of it on the tariff question.
Mr.. Randall is preparing o revenue
bill, looking to $50, 900, 900 reduction
of taxation. Mr.. Mills, the probable
Chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee is framing a bill, based
upon a reduction of $50, 600 600 in in
:ernal revenue taxation and largely
increased free list. It is certain that
this measure will be carefully scruti
nized by Speaker Carlisle before he
gives it his support. Mr.. RaD dall's bill
proposes to make an equal reduction i'll
tariff duties and internal taxation. 1t
is believed that the Speaker and the
Ex Speaker will come to an agreement
on tariff reform that will be generally
acceptable to the Democracy. Why,
so widespread is the conviction that
tariff revision Is necessary, that even
the Republicans ale working up 9
measure to that effect, so that in the
event of Democratic dissension, they
can take advantage of the situation
rush their bill through, and steal the
euemy's thunder.
The Senate committees having beer
organized this week, that body is fair
ly progressing with it's work, aud {
shower of bills has been introduced
many of them, however, being old Il
readers Of the Congressional Record
Among the more important, mention
may be made of Senator Hoar's bill t
change Inauguration day from Msrcl
4th, to April 30th. In case it passes
this bill cannot become law unit
after the next Inauguration, as tn
State Legislatures must first rstify tt
measure.
| Senator Platt has again introduce
his resolution to abolish secret session
of the Senate, but that dignified assem-
r bly, is SO jealous Of its privileges an
f prerogatives, that there is little probs
, bility of the passage of such an act.
= Senator Cullum's bill making th
"United States Postal Telegraph"
part ofthe Postal system of the Unite
States, providing for the constructio
, of number of telegraph trunk line
! connecting the principal cities of tt
5 country, appropriating fosr millio
dollars for the purpose, and regulatin
the tariff of charges, while it is NJ
D without its merits, one of the seriol
objections to its becoming a law is th'
there would be an Immense increal
d in the number of Government en-
: ployes. It is also claimed by man
t that such a scheme would be an IL
fringement of States' rights and dal
gerous concession to the doctrine
8 federal Capitalization.
:. Senator Chandler's bill to /" reg
o late" Congressional elections in ii
8 States of South Carolina, Florid
t Mississippi and Louisiana by Il
e presence of Federal marshals and 9
y pervisors, is the very worst bill of a
n and if it should pass the Senate wou
never become a law, because there
no valid reason why these Stat
should be singled out tor regulatio
Such legislation is worthy of this san
;. bill" Chandler, who was largely i
" strumental In stealing the votes
three of those States for his Fraud
>, lency. Rutherford B. Hayes, who W
- the first and only man to dishonor t
: Presidential chair. The dissolvil
Republican party has given proof
strong as holy writ Of Its decadence
spewing into the American House
Millionaires Bill Chandler, the spoons
u and brasen beneficiary of the mon
mental political infamy of mode
times Whom the Gods destroy tn
first make mad"